Fly-catcher.



E. KUNZ a; 0. B. HODGE.

FLY GATGHEE.

APPLICATION FILED MAB..18, 1911.

1,019,008. 1 Patented Feb.27,1912.

@gli w 'UNITED STATES IPATENT OFFICE.

EMIL KUNZ AND OTIS E. I-IODGrE, 0F RUSTON, LOUISIANA.

FLY-CATCHER.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that we, EMIL KUNZ and Oris E. IIODGE, citizens respectivelyof Austria-Hungary and the United States, residing at Ruston, parish ofLincoln, and State of Louisiana, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Fly-Catchers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fly-catchers and particularly to fly-catchersof the type in which a sticky substance such as glue, molasses or 'thelike is exposed on a suitable support to attract flies and entangletheir feet if they alight thereon.

The primary object of the device is to provide suitable apparatus forexposing sticky substances to entrap the flies and to provide means forreadily removing entrapped flies and renewing on the same support thecoating of sticky substance.

' Another object of the invention is to provide means for maintaining asupply of the sticky substance and exposing it in such a way that ieswill be more apt to alight on it than when exposed on a sheet of paperor in an open dish.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fly-catcher of thetype specified which is not lunsightly in appearance and which may beset on a table, mantel or other similar article of furniture withoutmeans for securing it in position and wit-hout danger of being blownover or accidentally brought into contact with objects that would beinjured by the sticky material.

In the drawings we have illustrated the preferred form of our inventionwhich may be varied in design wit-hin the scope of the appended claim tosuit the fancy of the maker.

In the drawings; Figure 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly invertical section of the entire device. Fig. 2 is a detailed View of thesocket in which the antenna wires are secured.

In the drawings l designates the base of the {1y-catcher which is ablock of wood or other material of suitably ornamental form. The block 1is provided with a shallow cavity at the top, in the center of which issecured a socket 2 provided with a threaded shank 3 which is screwedinto the base at the top. Extending upward on the socket 2 are aplurality of wires 4, which may be called .for convenience antennawires. These Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led March 18, 1911.

Patented Feb. 27,1912.

serial No. 615,434.

a. distance. of ten or twelveinches and are provided at their upwardends, which are flared outward as shown, with knobs 5. These wiresextend through holes in the bottom of the receptacle or can 6 of anysuitable material, such as tin. The holes in the bottomV of thereceptacle 6 are of such size that the wires fit closely within them forreasons that will presently appear.

The receptacle 6 is provided with a top 7 suitably secured in positionand presenting a cavity or chamber 8 on the upper surface. The wiresextend through holes in the top whichare spaced apart so as to causet-he wires to diverge as they extend upward. The hole 9 in the lowerportion of this top can be brought into registration with a hole ofsimilar size in the side wall of the receptacle to permit convenientintroduction in the receptacle of a semi-liquid sticky substance, suchas glue or thick molasses. The sticky substance m-ust be of suchcharacter that it will not dry on exposure to the air.

IVe preferably provide on the upper surface of the top 7 of thereceptacle a cover 10 Y of paper shaped to fit within the cavity orrecess 8 formed in the top. This cover of paper forms a sort of liningfor this cavity which will keep it from becoming Vcoated with the stickysubstance which may run down from the antenna wires. rThis may berenewed as often as desired.

The use of the fly-catcher willbe readily understood from an inspectionof the drawings. Iith parts and position indicated in Fig. l thereceptacle or can is supplied with a suitable quantity of glue throughopening 9 and the top is then turned so as to close the opening. Thereceptacle is then raised as far as the knobs on the upper ends of thewires will permit thus drawing the wires downward through the stickysubstance in the receptacle and coating them with same. The receptacleis then lowered to its original position leaving the upper portions ofthe antenna wires thickly coated with the sticky substance. Theapparatus is then ready for use and is set on any convenient supportleaving the glue coated' antenna wires exposed. Flies alighting on theseantenna wires become entangled in the coating of sticky substance andcannot escape. Then a considerable number of iies have been thus caughtthe can is then raised for t-he double purpose of removing the fliesfrom Wires, preferably 5 in number, extend up to l the antenna wires andrenewing the coating of sticky material on the wires. When the can isrestored to its initial position the Captured ies will rest on the uppersurface of the top of the receptacle from which they can be easilyremoved.

Having thus described our invention what we Claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is; f

A fly catcher comprising a base, a plurality of slightly divergentupwardly eX- tending wires mounted on said base and a receptacle forsticky material slidably mounted on said wires, and having said Wiresextending through said receptacle from end to end, seid receptaclehaving a top fitted over lthe upper end of' the reeeptacle and capableof being turned on the receptacle, the receptacle and the top beingprovided with openings which een be brought into registration for thepurpose of filling the receptacle.

In witness whereof, we have signed our names in the presence of twowitnesses.

EMIL KUNZ.

OTIS E. HODGE.

Witnesses:

J. D. BARKSDALE,

ARNOLD BARKSDALE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner 'of Patents, Y

Washington, D. C.

